New Guinea impatiens plant named ‘Vinfeleche’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea  Impatiens  plant named ‘Vinfeleche’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; and numerous red purple-colored flowers that are positioned above and beyond the foliage.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘VINFELECHE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Vinfeleche’.

The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Gensingen, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new compact and freely branching Impatiens plants with numerous large flowers and attractive leaf and flower colors.

The new Impatiens plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in November, 2004, of a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number 04-075, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of the Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number 04-121, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Gensingen, Germany in April, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by terminal cuttings propagated in a controlled greenhouse environment in Gensingen, Germany since the summer of 2007 has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Vinfeleche’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Vinfeleche’ as a new and distinct New Guinea Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Numerous red purple-colored flowers that are positioned above         and beyond the foliage.

Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more compact and have shorter         internodes than plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens are not as upright as plants of         the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens are more freely branching than         plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of New Guinea Impatiens ‘Visinfdkp’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,472. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gensingen, Germany, plants of the new Impatiens differed primarily from plants of ‘Visinfdkp’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens were more freely branching than         plants of ‘Visinfdkp’.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens had darker green-colored leaves         than plants of ‘Visinfdkp’.     -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens and ‘Visinfdkp’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Visinfdkp’ had dark pink-colored         flowers.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of New Guinea Impatiens ‘Visinfblla’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,147. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gensingen, Germany, plants of the new Impatiens differed primarily from plants of ‘Visinfblla’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens were more freely branching than         plants of ‘Visinfblla’.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens had darker green-colored leaves         than plants of ‘Visinfblla’.     -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens and ‘Visinfblla’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Visinfblla’ had purple and red         bi-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Impatiens plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Vinfeleche’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Vinfeleche’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Bonsall, Calif. during the winter and early spring in 10-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse and under environmental conditions and cultural practices which approximate those generally used in commercial New Guinea Impatiens production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 27° C., night temperatures averaged 24° C. and light levels averaged 7,000 foot-candles. Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typical flowering plants which were 15 weeks old when the photographs and detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri ‘Vinfeleche’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number 04-075, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number 04-121, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 14 days at 20° C. to             22° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 18 days at 19° C. to             21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 18 days             at 20° C. to 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 21 days             at 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, medium in thickness; white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form.—Compact, upright and mounded plant habit.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Vigorous and freely branching             habit; about seven lateral branches developing at the base;             dense and bushy growth habit; pinching, that is, removal of             the terminal apices, is typically not required, but will             enhance branching.         -   Plant height.—About 17.2 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 19 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 9.2 cm. Diameter: About             7 mm. Internode length: About 3.2 cm. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to N199B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite or in whorls, simple.         -   Length.—About 8.7 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrulate with ciliation.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than 147A; venation,             close to 182B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 185A.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 183C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single axillary flowers;             freely flowering habit with usually about seven flowers and             flower buds per lateral branch; flowers positioned above the             foliar plane and typically face outwardly.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about one week under             greenhouse conditions; petals self-cleaning, gynoecium             persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse             conditions; in the garden, flowering from spring until fall             in California; plants begin flowering about ten weeks after             planting.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 5.8 cm. Depth: About 3 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 cm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 58B.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a             single whorl. Length, banner petal: About 2.2 cm. Length,             lateral petals: About 2.4 cm. Length, lower petals: About             3.2 cm. Width, banner petal: About 4 cm. Width, lateral             petals: About 3.2 cm. Width, lower petals: About 3 cm.             Shape: Cordate. Apex: Emarginate to cordate. Base: Acute.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close             to 67A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 51A. Fully             opened, upper surface: Center, close to 67A to 67B; towards             the apex and margins, close to 53C; towards the base, close             to N74C to N74D; color does not fade with development. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 51A; towards the base, close             to 67C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three arranged in a single             whorl; one modified into an elongated spur. Length: About             7 mm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Acuminate.             Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 60B to 60C. Spur length: About 4.4 cm. Spur             diameter: At flower, about 2 mm; at apex, less than 1 mm.             Spur texture: Smooth, glabrous. Spur color: Close to 60B to             60C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle:             About 35° to 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 178A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at             anthers; filaments free. Anther size: About 3 mm by 5 mm.             Anther color: Close to 18B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen             color: Close to 8D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.             Pistil length: About 5 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma             color: Close to 145D. Style color: Close to 146A. Ovary             color: Close to 146A.         -   Seeds and fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Impatiens. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to New Guinea     Impatiens. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about 16° C. to about 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Vinfeleche’ as illustrated and described. 